Church wedded to single priests

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The cause of married priests has been dealt a double blow,
Australia's leading Catholic declaring his opposition and another
senior church leader suggesting most priests would make "bad
marriage risks".

The Bishop of Parramatta, Kevin Manning, has taken a swipe at
the secular press for its "slanted advice", questioned whether a
global shortage of priests existed and suggested that Australian
Catholics encourage their children to enter religious life.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, told the Herald
he could never see a day when Rome would permit priests to marry.
More realistic was a debate on whether the church should admit
married men to the priesthood, but he did not support even that
step.

"That's the only theoretical possibility. I hope it isn't a
realistic possibility at all. If we did that it would weaken the
church enormously. You've got to invest a lot of time and energy
into making a marriage work and so therefore you are so much less
free, at least theoretically, to do the church's work.

"I think our strengths have been brought about and maintained by
the faithful sacrifice of celibate priests, brothers and nuns."

Australian priests have written to the Vatican's Synod of
Bishops asking it to consider admitting married men and readmitting
priests who have left the clergy to marry.

The National Council of Priests, representing half of
Australia's 1649 Catholic clergy, argues that marriage should be no
bar to ordination.

Their request comes at a time when a manpower shortage in the
Sydney diocese has forced some parishes to share priests.

The council is preparing a follow-up discussion paper opening
debate about the Catholic tradition of the Eucharist, of which the
shortage of priests is one aspect, to all parts of the church.

"The availability of an ordained priest is just one important
and essential element of that discussion," the council's president,
Father Hal Ranger, said yesterday.

Writing in this month's issue of the diocesan newspaper
Catholic Outlook, Bishop Manning said the 1950s and '60s was
a time of an abundance of priests. But having fewer priests now did
not necessarily mean there was a shortage.

"In fact, some areas of Australia were over-serviced. There are
fewer priests nowadays, but does that constitute a shortage?"

Bishop Manning said the council should be commended for its
proposal, which was not new, but most priests "would probably be
bad marriage risks at this time of their lives". If Catholics
wanted more vocations, they should "pray insistently" and encourage
their children to enter the priesthood.

"I have to ask: do Catholics really want more vocations?; do
they pray insistently for vocations?; how ready are Catholic
families to encourage their children to enter the priesthood or
religious life?; is inherent selfishness, which regulates the
number of children in the family and seeks the 'good life', the
principal goal of families?"

Priests ought to provide active encouragement for others to
consider a vocation. Their example of a "sacrificial life" would
bring young men to the priesthood.

"How many people, including priests who advocate the ordination
of married men, personally encourage candidates for the priesthood,
or ask them: 'Have you ever thought of becoming a priest?'

"And how many priests ponder the bad example they give young men
by their constant criticism of the church?"

Rebel bishop banished from duties over ordination

Australian Anglican bishops have rebuked a rebel bishop but left
open the way to reconciliation in a dispute over women priests.

The bishop of the Murray diocese, Ross Davies, has been called
to account for his actions when he took part in the American
consecration of a Brisbane priest as bishop in the Traditional
Anglican Communion, a breakaway church that opposes women priests
and is not recognised by the Anglican Church of Australia.

Bishop Davies, an opponent of women priests, was subsequently
banished from church duties in Melbourne. This week's meeting of
bishops, chaired by the Anglican Primate, Dr Peter Carnley,
pictured, expressed its "deep concern and regret at the unilateral
action".

"We recognise the office of bishop is not a personal possession
of any individual but belongs to Christ's holy church," their
statement said. "Therefore, this conference requests the Bishop of
Murray to explain his actions to a select group appointed by this
conference."

Dr Carnley said Bishop Murray's actions were in clear
contravention of the policy guiding the 38 national churches of the
international Anglican Communion.

"Never ever before have we had a situation where a member of one
church has become a bishop in another church."

Dr Carnley said expulsion was a "thinkable" way to deal with
Bishop Davies, but "the Anglican way of doing things is always to
try to re-establish trust and the fullness of fellowship".